Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.17.14
A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.
ENVIRONMENT
Earth’s record 41 billion-dollar weather disasters of 2013 (via Weather Underground)
California drought expands, fueling heat and fire (via Climate Central)
West Virginia spill heightens concerns about Ohio waterways (via Public News Service)
What Californians can expect from the drought (via Significant Figures)
COAL
Japan utilities December coal use rises 15% year-over-year (via Reuters)
First lawsuit against Obama’s new coal limits just got filed (via Mother Jones)
Despite decline, states still spending billions to import coal (via Midwest Energy News)
Feds pledge $1 billion to build FutureGen 2.0 (via Springfield State Journal-Register)
RENEWABLES
India could reach 100% renewables by mid-century (via CleanTechnica)
Deutsche Bank projects 56GW of solar to be installed in 2015 (via Facts of the Day)
John Hancock backs US solar PV build (via Recharge)
Solar on a grand scale: Big power plants coming online in the West (via Washington Post)
Military deployment of clean technology accelerates (via San Jose Mercury-News)
US Marine ExFOB 2014 seeks next-gen energy harvesting systems (via CleanTechnica)
California gives go-ahead to Blythe solar plan (via Renewable Energy World)
New Mexico joins the geothermal power ranks (via EarthTechling)
NATURAL GAS/FRACKING
Europe to America: We want your natural gas (via National Journal)
UK thwarts EU plan to create binding fracking rules (via EnergyWire)
Report predicts 20 years of stable natural gas prices (via Houston Chronicle)
Cold weather led to record-high natural gas storage withdrawals (via US EIA)
Oklahoma regulators consider new rules for wastewater disposal wells (via The Oklahoman)
Study finds 5,893 natural gas leaks in Washington DC (via USA Today)
CLIMATE
Climate protection may cut world GDP 4% by 2030, says UN (via Bloomberg)
Sluggish economy prompts Europe to reconsider its climate change intentions (via New York Times)
Environmental groups say Obama needs to address climate change more aggressively (via Washington Post)
Extreme weather wreaking havoc on food as farmers suffer (via Bloomberg)
US Chamber’s new energy plan disregards previous climate change concerns (via SNL Energy)
Climate change will cut California’s ability to make electricity just as more is needed (via ClimateWire)
KEYSTONE XL/TAR SANDS
Canada loses patience on Keystone XL, tells US to decide (via Chicago Tribune)
Canadian support of Keystone XL pipeline is falling, says new poll (via Climate Progress)
EMISSIONS
EPA chief: No politics behind delay in climate rule (via National Journal)
Mitch McConnell aims to torpedo EPA carbon rules with obscure legislative tool (via Huffington Post)
Emails between EPA, Sierra Club become talking point in emissions rule battle (via Greenwire)
OIL
How the oil boom could change US foreign policy (via Washington Post)
Investigation shows feds knew of risks ahead of crude-by-rail accidents (via National Journal)
TRANSPORTATION
Toyota pledges to top US effort to double fuel economy by 2025 (via Bloomberg)
GRID
IHS says grid-connected energy storage set to “explode” (via Solar Industry Magazine)
GREEN BUILDING
Net-zero energy buildings double in 2013 (via Sustainable Business)
Bringing a touch of green to American capitals (via EarthTechling)
OPINION
How the SEC can fight climate change (via Huffington Post)
The most impressive clean tech comeback story you haven’t heard (via CleanTechnica)
National “Shout Out for Solar” day enjoys broad support (via Renewable Energy World)
Better to export natural gas fracking or advanced coal technologies? (via Forbes)